Updating windows 8.1/64 bit: Not updated since April 2014

I have been away and have not updated my laptop for months (since April 2014). I have automatic updates turned off. Needless to say there are quite a bit of updates waiting in the line. How should I proceed? At one point I heard I needed to download a special updater program for windows 8 is this still the case? So many updates is scary!!

You have Windows 8.1 in your Subject line but Windows 8 in the second question. Which?

There were some required updates needed to be installed before going to the Store to get Windows 8.1 Update, it's Free but may have to log in with a Microsoft ID, I use my Hotmail ID. Lots of discussion on various forums about it. I'd go ahead with any Win8 updates then go for 8.1.

If you already have Windows 8.1 I'd do all the updates Except those for drivers which usually are optional. It's wise to make sure the computer runs properly for awhile [several reboots] before doing driver updates and then do only one at a time rebooting after each, if one fails it's easier to go back.

*Perform the update on a freshly booted modestly cleaned up and defraged PC.

Put your laptop on a decent DSL or cable internet connection, plug in to main power (not battery)
and then let WU do it's updates. Be present throughout the process, especially the multiple times it will likely restart.

If you can't get on a decent bandwidth connection you might want to consider updating smaller amounts at a time, or go by dates (one date at atime).

DRIVE IMAGINGInvest a little time and energy in a well thought out BACKUP regimen and you will have minimal down time, and headache.

...I have automatic updates turned off. Needless to say there are quite a bit of updates waiting in the line. How should I proceed?...

Allow WU to install the updates.

There seems to be some questioning in this thread as to whether you have installed the 8.1 upgrade. You can check this by going to Control Panel\System

If you have installed the 8.1 upgrade then Control Panel\System should report your system as Window 8.1. If you have not installed the 8.1 upgrade then Control Panel\System should report your system as Window 8, and you need to install the 8.1 upgrade via the M$ Store.

All good an true advice but on a 1.6Ghz laptop with only 2GB of memory this could take many hours.
During some of the required Restarts you will have only a black screen with NO progress indicator at all. BE PATIENT and yes, do it only with the power supply permanently connected.
As additional precaution I recommend to explicitly set the Sleep timing to Never. (Control Panel, Small Icons, Power Options).

After setting my WU to notify/let me decide what to download and install, I do them in subject batches, meaning, I lump [click on] some .netFramework together, download & install. Then, do the remaining .netFramework updates. Then move onto another small group, 5-10 updates in another catagory, download and install. Eventually, all updates that I want are done. Some I immediately hide [such as drivers, Bing Bar, etc.].

All good an true advice but on a 1.6Ghz laptop with only 2GB of memory this could take many hours.
During some of the required Restarts you will have only a black screen with NO progress indicator at all. BE PATIENT and yes, do it only with the power supply permanently connected.
As additional precaution I recommend to explicitly set the Sleep timing to Never. (Control Panel, Small Icons, Power Options).

Though I wouldn't want to run any 64bit Windows with this kind of hardware configuration (whether desktop or laptop). With a 1.6Ghz CPU (hopefully dual core like AMD X2 or Intel Core Duo at least) and 2GB of memory, it's best to use a 32bit x86 version of Windows 8.1. x64 (64bit) Windows requires at least 3Gb or even 4GB of RAM and either an Intel or AMD Quad-Core CPU to run smoothly. It's really impractical to run a 64-bit edition of Windows with just 2gigs of RAM.